String Trio in C major

Hey all,

This is a String Trio I've written for 2 Violins and Viola.

It uses mainly triads, and a few sevenths. I guess it is a kind of Rondo form, it has ABA'B'A''B''A'''A kind of structure.

Don't be fooled by the title of the files, it's a trio.

Tell me what you think,

Thanks.

Recording

P.S. I think the opening motif might be a little modally ambiguous. What do you think?

Quartet #1 in C major2.MID

Finale 2008 - [String Trio #1 in C major2..pdf

Quartet #1 in C major2.MUS

I think you desperately need an introduction to what I call the black notes on the piano. There is nothing wrong with diatonic melodies and chords, but this piece is simply too much of the same thing over and over again. It lacks direction, and although it's rather long, I feel by the end of the piece we haven't traveled anywhere. Also, your voice leading in many parts is lacking; there are several instance of what I believe are unintentional parallel fifths and the like.

Also, there are a lot of issues with the score. The opening measures have all three players marked at different dynamics; the viola is marked forte, the 2nd violin mezzo forte, and the 1st violin marked mezo piano. I could understand such an effect if the three lines were very different and you expressly wanted one more prominent than the others, but as is, they're playing the exact same rhythms with similar interval patterns, and thus such instructions feel out of place. Expression and articular marks are sorely needed throughout the piece; you do a good job of marking slur marks in the first couple of measures, but after that, they're rarely if ever marked. In addition, it seems you forgot to delete the extra measures finale likes to tag on the end of your pieces. It's little details like this that make all the difference, and young composers are very guilty about thinking they're not very important. I used to be guilty of the very same thing, and only very recently have I been very thorough in expressive markings.

Edit:

Another quick tip. Another bad habit beginning composers get into is what I like to call "writing for the computer" rather than writing for actual instruments. You're a musician, which means you probably have a friend or two that also play musical instruments. Instead of writing on finale, try doing it the old school way and write it by hand on staff paper. It's ok to use a piano or another instrument to assist you, but avoid using the computer until you're ready to put in the final edition. Here's the revolutionary part: after you're finished with your piece, actually have you and your friends play and record it. Then listen to it. One of the most life changing experiences I had was when I actually had one of my pieces performed rather than just hitting "play" on finale to hear it. It's a completely different experience, and by writing by hand, it'll help improve your ear at a far faster rate than if you just sit down at finale all day.

With these criticisms in mind, I think you should start a new project with what you've learned from this one. The worst thing beginners can do is get hung up on one project too much, trying to turn it into a master piece. At this stage of the game, composing as much as possible while learning from your older pieces is more important than perfecting individual pieces. Finish a piece, learn from it, and start a new one and try to make it better than your last one.